House of Hope Is Serving Up Thanksgiving Dinner With All the Fixings
STUART, Fla. –A Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings is a cherished American tradition. For thousands of food-insecure Martin County residents, though, the celebration is a financial impossibility without help from the community.
House of Hope is once again stepping in to help with its annual turkey drive and its goal of serving a holiday meal with all the trimmings to families in economic need. In the true spirit of the giving season, community members are invited to drop off a frozen turkey and any other food or monetary donations to any House of Hope pantry by November 15. Groups, organizations and neighborhoods are encouraged to conduct a food drive in their community to help those in need.
“Boxed and canned items are always in demand,” according to House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri. “Vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy – all of the things that help to make a meal festive are needed by our families. Thanks to our operations at the Growing Hope Farm, we’re also able to add fresh fruits and vegetables to our meal packages.”
In an innovative approach to getting fresh food to their clients, House of Hope developed hydroponic greenhouses as well as conventional in-ground beds and an orchard at their production farm in Palm City. “We’re growing our own,” Ranieri said, “so we can be sure our clients benefit from fresh produce along with other staples in their diet.”
The demand for food assistance remains high. “This year we have distributed over 1.1 million pounds of food through our four food pantries and the thirty food pantry partners that collect food from us regularly,” Ranieri said. “Our food bank partners are soup kitchens, shelters, smaller pantries and youth programs in Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties. They use House of Hope food to reach thousands more in need.”
Donations of turkeys and other foodstuffs or monetary donations can be brought to the House of Hope offices at 2484 SE Bonita Street in Stuart or any of the House of Hope food pantries in Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound and Indiantown by November 15. Monetary donations can also be made online at https://www.hohmartin.org/donate.
“With the generosity of our community and the harvests from our farm,” Ranieri said, “we can make this Thanksgiving one that’s filled with the spirit of gratitude and also healthy food.”
Families or individuals in need can contact House of Hope at 772-286-4673 to learn about eligibility and registration deadlines.
About House of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 21,000 people each month, helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future.
The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, with thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Centers for Enrichment at Golden Gate in Stuart, in Jensen Beach, and at KinDoo Family Center in Indiantown offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being.
House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and X.